Former Haverhill Gazette staff writer and founder of the Greater Haverhill Arts Association Robert J. Gablosky, 88, passed away after a battle with cancer Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, surrounded by his family.
“Bob” was born Sep. 12, 1928, in Westville, N.H., son of the late Arthur J. and Blanche (Lavoie) Gablosky Tremblay. He was raised in Westville, N.H., but was a proud, lifelong resident of Haverhill. He graduated from Haverhill High School, class of 1948, and worked on the reunion committee. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1954 aboard the USS Mindoro as a typist and journalist. He attended Great Lakes Journalism School and was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, while serving in the Navy.
He was a reporter and city editor for the Haverhill Gazette from 1954 until his retirement in 1982. He also was employed by Lucent Technologies/AT&T as a public relations specialist, publishing the “Valley Voice” magazine until 1989. He also attended Fitchburg State College and earned his certification in 1980 as an instructor of Commercial Art in Vocational Education. He was an art instructor at Haverhill High School night pPrograms and at other area schools.
He was an accomplished singer and pianist, singing with the St. Joseph’s and later St. Lucy’s church choirs as well as a member of the “Italian Serenaders” choral group that performed in many places across the U.S. He was also the past director of the Haverhill chapter of the American Red Cross and an active member of the Plaistow Historical Society. His passion was his art and he won awards and accolades for his oil paintings and pen and ink sketches. He donated many paintings for worthy causes and he painted many scenes of Haverhill landmarks and historical buildings, many of which are on display at City Hall, Northern essex Community College, local churches and businesses. He loved to stretch his own canvasses and create some of his own frames with weathered boards.
He founded the Greater Haverhill Arts Association in 1971 and was past president and an active member for the last 45 years. He also served on the board of the Haverhill Arts Commission. He was very involved in the Art Association Exhibits and a fixture at the “Arts in the Park” in Bradford Common every year. He established the Eagle Art Studio at his home and was an art instructor and mentor to many looking to improve their craft. He and his wife and Pat were avid travelers, taking numerous trips to Italy and Germany, France, Austria, Holland, a cruise to Alaska, trips to the Grand Canyon and Arizona, Yellowstone, Washington State, Oregon, Canada, Maine, coastal North Carolina and in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Gablosky took his camera to photograph mountains, lighthouses, historical landmarks and buildings or nature scenes that would be the inspiration for his next painting.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, M. Patricia Gablosky of Haverhill, and his three daughters, Deborah E. Carpenter of Atkinson, N.H., Sandra A. Anderson and her husband Hollis of E. Hampstead, N.H., and Theresa M. Shaw, also of Atkinson, N.H.; grandchildren, Katie Gaboriault and husband Rob of Smithfield, R.I., Jessica King and husband Dan of Hampstead, N.H., as well as Tricia Longbook, and Nicholas and Andrew Chilingirian; four great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews, especially James Gablosky, Scott Farley and many, many good friends. He was predeceased by his grandson Kevin R. Anderson in 2014.
The Gablosky family thanks the staff at The Wingate of Haverhill and Merrimack Valley Hospice for their care and kindness during his illness.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his life celebration Thursday, Feb. 2, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Brookside Chapel and Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, N.H. His funeral will be Friday, at 9 a.m., from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10a.m., in All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Ave., Haverhill. A private family burial service will take place in Maplewood Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Robert J. Gablosky Memorial Scholarship Fund,” and sent to theGreater Haverhill Arts Association, 69 Farrwood Drive, Bradford, MA 01835 with “RJG Scholarship” in the memo line or to the Plaistow Historical Society, “Robert J. Gablosky Memorial Scholarship Fund”, Box 434, Plaistow, NH 03865.